Do I want an expensive mixer?

[nothing2lose]

So, I've found myself with lots of credit card rewards points. $550 worth of store vouchers (if I choose to redeem them that way).

For a while I have been saying I am going to buy a mixer one day. A good one, like Kitchen Aid, Kenwood or Sunbeam Planetary.

Should I do it? Or should I just keep relying on muscle power and my cheap handheld mixer??

What do you use your mixer for?

[Phteven]

Yes. You want a kenwood. It may not be as pretty as a kitchen aid but it has a more powerful engine.
You can buy attachments that will enable you to mince your own meat, make sausages, use it as a blender or food processor etc.

[Rouge]

It depends on what you want. And what you like. I could give you heaps of arguments against a kenwood. Just as I'm sure Kenwood users could do the same

You can get a whole heap of attachments for KA as well. I think the attachments are the same across the board.

I use my KA for everything, mixing grating, mincing, ice cream, baking.

What would you use it for?

[Astrid]

KA here with heaps of attachment (just not the icecream one). Really depends on what you are wanting to do.

You have Pay TV? If so check out the TVSN channel, sometimes they are selling KA's. Their demo will give you a bit of any idea of if you what you want from your mixer. You might go "nah, don't want to do any of that" or "ooh, I want". DH was dubious on my KA, but once he watch TVSN segment on it, he was sold, he was doubly sold when I was able to make bottle of passata from our tomato crop.

[Phteven]

It's like the OS war of the kitchen.

I was raised a Kenwood girl and I'll always be a Kenwood girl.

[Cranky Kitten]

Mmmmm, another KA girl here - I love mine so much she has a name (Betty, because she's big and black and sparkly) Once you get a decent stand mixer you'll wonder how you managed with a simple hand held one, plus there's the option of a gazillion different attachments.

That said, I grew up using my Mum's Kenwood - that thing is 25 years old, never been serviced or anything and still works. Ok, the casing is cracked and it sometimes walks off the bench but hey, it's the hardest working piece of machinery on the farm according to Mum. She is a little jealous of Betty now though

[nothing2lose]

My mum got a Sunbeam for a wedding present. It lasted six kids and over 20 years. Good effort!

Plus, my Sunbeam Cafe Series Coffee Machine hasnt missed a beat in eight years. That's why it's on my list for consideration....

[Miss.September]

I love the fact that you can walk away from it while it's doing what you need it to while you go on with other tasks. The way I see it, if you think you need a mixer, then you probably do.

I got my KA for my 30th and love it. My mum has had her Kenwood for 36 years and only now is it showing signs of dying. I didn't have a preference over the two brands but went with the KA because DH bought it for me. We have the mincer and ice cream attachments and it's awesome. Since getting it three years ago, I think I've used the handheld beaters twice.

[LuluHB]

I have the sunbeam cafe series (not planetary) and had to have parts replaced under warranty. The lovely fix it man put in metal replacement parts instead of the plastic and since then (5 years) it hasn't missed a beat despite heavy use.

I commented to the lovely fix it man that I should have paid the extra and got a KA, and he said the most repairs he gets are KA by a long way. His recommendation was a kenwood every time. He says people should get granma's reconditioned rather than buying new anything

Maybe just get the extended warranty whichever way you go

ETA: oh, but yes. You do want an expensive mixer. Can't beat a stand mixer for convenience

[onthefly]

I think you should get the one that matches your kitchen best

[Phteven]

His recommendation was a kenwood every time. He says people should get granma's reconditioned rather than buying new anything

Yep. When Mum died hers was still going strong. I should have kept it

I think you should get the one that matches your kitchen best

If she gets a good one her kitchen will be renovated before it dies so she should get the one she likes best then renovate the kitchen to match

[ladybirdflies]

YES!!! chose the one you like, we could back and forth all day on which one and why!

[Phteven]

Make sure you check out the price and availability of attachments for your expensive mixer before you choose which one to buy.
You can get things like bowls, k-beaters, juicers etc for KW second hand on ebay for next to nothing. No idea about sunbeam and KA because I have never looked for them.

[LionsandBears]

I have a Kenwood. My mum still has her 40 year old kenwood. They go and go and go. Know idea about KAs except they look funky.

[sahbear]

Yes - you do want one!

I love my KA, but have heard lots of good things about the KW too.
Good Luck choosing

[Amy_jellybean]

DH has just bought me a new mixer for my birthday last week. I have been using my mums old mixer since I moved out when I was 18. He went for neither of the above, he bought me the mixer with the. Invest engine he could find, its red and sparkly and I love it. I think it was about $400 and had some awesome attachments as well.

Now for this morning sickness to po so I can actually use it......

[BellyBelly]

Ive decided I need one too. But also very torn! It seems very much Canon or Nikon, Ford or Holden lol. Reviews have apparently put KA first by a tiny bit. But there is the price factor and I believe the Chef comes with some attachments already, you need to buy extra KA ones. I dunno!

Whats the difference with the thermomix and thermochef - i'm lost with all these machines but what we have is killing me!!!

[LionsandBears]

The difference between thermomix and thermochef, apart from about $1000, is manufacture, engine type and where it was made. The Thermochef is a copy of the old TMX model. It's made in China and has an electric motor. It doesnt have the reverse function that the TMX has.

The TMX is German design, made in France and has a redistance motor, which means it shouldnt break down for years, if years. I wouldnt expect the Thermochef to lastmore than about 5 years. The TMX is $1900 though. A rival to the TMX which may be better is the HotMix Pro. If you want to research the differences, check out the Tenina blog.